After nearly two weeks in the Netherlands we were eager to get moving again. On Friday evening we crossed into Germany and stayed overnight in Essen before continuing to the Czech Republic the next morning. The joy of being back on the road quickly faded when we discovered that the LPG adapters here were completely different from the ones we carried. We tried station after station without success. For two nights we were forced to stay on campsites, just to run the fridge on electricity. By Tuesday we finally found a camper shop that sold a complete adapter set. It felt like holding a golden ticket to freedom.

A magical night in the forest

Back on the road again

With our new adapters packed safely away we headed for the forest. What we found turned out to be the most beautiful overnight spot of the week. Tall trees surrounded us, the air was fresh and the silence was almost complete. A small educational trail wound through the woods, lined with signs about plants and animals. We picked wild blackberries, sweet and bursting with juice, and gathered chamomile flowers which we later hung to dry in the camper for tea. As dusk fell the forest came alive. A few deer appeared quietly between the trees, so close we hardly dared to breathe. That night we slept with the windows open, the forest wrapped around us like a blanket. It felt as if nature itself had taken us in.

The next morning we drove to an old mining site where a free camper spot was waiting. We visited the ochre mine first. The walls glowed yellow in the dim light and drops of water echoed through the narrow tunnels. It was beautiful but also slightly unsettling.

The gold mine was something else entirely. The guide told us the legend of a miner who vanished deep underground. His wife went in to search for him and never returned. People say her spirit still roams the tunnels calling his name. At one point the guide asked us to stand still in complete darkness. The silence pressed against our ears, and I could swear I heard a faint cry in the distance. Was it just imagination? The cold that ran over my arms was real enough. Only when we boarded the rattling mining train and returned to the surface did the spell seem to break.

A day of silence at Auschwitz

Underground legends

From hidden legends we moved on to the heaviest part of the week: a visit to Auschwitz. We arrived the night before and parked across from the museum so we could queue early. At sunrise we joined the line, and when the gates opened we walked beneath the iron sign that reads “Arbeit macht frei.” The weight of history was immediate.

Inside we walked through barracks filled with exhibitions. Piles of shoes, personal belongings, even human hair told stories of people whose lives were stolen. The preserved gas chamber and crematorium left everyone silent. Later at Birkenau the sheer size of the camp struck us. Photographs had never shown the scale. Standing by the railway tracks and listening to our guide’s words was overwhelming. When the tour ended we sat quietly in the camper, drained and reflective. Some experiences leave no space for words.

The day after Auschwitz felt like stepping into another world. At Energylandia, Poland’s largest amusement park, we screamed, laughed and let go. Hyperion and Zadra quickly became our favorites and we were lucky enough to ride them more than once thanks to short queues. The summer heat was softened by spray mists and splash rides, and when evening came a thunderstorm gave us a light show of its own. We watched from the camper, mesmerized by the lightning across the sky.

On Sunday we found peace again just outside Kraków. A quarry had been transformed into natural swimming pools with clear, cool water and rugged stone walls. Best of all it was free. We swam, floated and basked in the sun, feeling as if we had stumbled on a secret paradise. It was the perfect way to close a week filled with contrasts.

From adrenaline to calm

🌟 Highlight
Energylandia, absolutely fantastic

😬 Low point
The struggle with the LPG adapter, frustrating until solved

🏕 Best overnight spot
Forest with the educational trail, magical setting with deer at dusk.

🔥 Chaosmeter
6/10 – A chaotic start but balanced with many special experiences

📊 Total score
9/10 – From thrills to quiet reflection, this week had everything

Casa Mariposa Meter – Week 10